Are you a fresh herb lover? Have you ever wondered how to store fresh cilantro and other herbs? There is an easy way to store leafy herbs that can make them last up to 6 weeks!
I love cooking with fresh herbs, but hate wasting the leftovers! Cilantro is one of our favorite fresh herbs to purchase. I love using fresh cilantro easy Tex-Mex recipes including Southwest Ranch Style Beans, Seven C’s Chicken Salad, Healthy Southwest Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing, and Transforming Black Bean and Corn Salad.
The downside? When cooking with fresh cilantro I would use up part of my bunch, store the remainder in the fridge crisper, and then find myself tossing out half used bunches.
Herbs like cilantro are sold in large, fresh-cut bundles in grocery stores all across the United States. While I love the convenience of picking up herbs as I shop, I hate the fact that there is so much waste.
Cut herbs generally don’t have much of a shelf life so after a week or so they get slimy and unusable. My cilantro used to look like crispy brown leaves or slimy mush after a few days in the crisper. (See the poor wilted stems above?)
How to Store Fresh Cilantro
Fortunately, there is a simple storage trick that can help fresh cilantro last up to 6 weeks! What’s the secret? Treat bunches of cilantro just like you treat fresh-cut flowers!
Like a florist, you need to trim the ends of your leafy herbs, place them in fresh, cool water and store them in a fridge. Once a week or so you need to replace the water and retrim the ends. Freshly trimmed ends will be able to absorb more water, allowing the herbs to stay fresh.
You can loosely cover your herbs with a plastic bag once they are trimmed and in cool water. I use a disposable bag from the grocery store vegetable section (I usually get one with my cilantro). Herbs can also be stored uncovered. See which works well in your fridge, it depends on the humidity in your area.
My cilantro lasts a LONG time with or without a plastic bag cover. Just remember to trim it regularly and keep the water fresh. This storage tip works with many leafy herbs. Check out my parsley!
Here’s my current batch of cilantro, can you believe it is more than six weeks old? No slime in sight!
I hope you try this technique to make your fresh herbs last longer!
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Katherine
you can also microwave it for a min or two. and store it in a plastic container or baggie. I do it all the time. I do this for flavor, it spoils easy in the frig.
Bren
Thanks for the tip! Does it dry the leaves?
Cherita
Another way to avoid waste is to plant part of the bunch; once you have a nice bunch you can trim and use as needed without risk of wilting and will save you money
Bren
Yes! I love growing cilantro in the spring and summer. Unfortunately mine does not do well once the cold sets in so I have to buy fresh cilantro when needed.
Fran
Do you wash the cilantro first?
Bren
I wash and dry it well first but it also works unwashed!
Patty
This sounds so easy and thank you for sharing. Will try it today. Will this work with basil?
Bren
Thanks, Patty. I’ve never tried this trick with basil but it does work with oregano and thyme. Let me know if you try the basil!
Car
Cute jar!Whee did you get it from?
Bren
It’s a Starbuck frappuccino bottle I recycled! I make them into drink holders for kids too!
Claire
I use the same trick for fresh basil. I can extend the life of a bunch for up to 7 days only though – basil is just not storage friendly. However, I find that this is a difficult way to store anything in our fridge, since everything is so crowded and shuffling inevitably causes a spilled ‘vase’ of herbs. It drives my husband nuts (since he’s the main shuffler)
Bren
Great tip, Claire! Thanks for sharing. -Bren
Letty.
Thank you for sharing but I saw u had horizon organic milk. It not a good organic company.
Bren
Thanks for stopping by and sharing.
JC
Wonderful! Thank you for taking the time to write back with this great link!
JC
Great tip! Do you have an idea on how to keep green onions fresh for longer too?
Bren
Thanks JC! I recently read this post about storing green onions. It had some great tips.
Clarissa
This is crazy helpful! Thanks for sharing! I wonder if this will work for spinach? I don’t know why, but every time I buy a bunch of spinach, I have a limited time to use it in before it gets slimy.
-Clarissa
Bren
Thanks Clarissa! I have never tried it with spinach but it might work if you buy those long bunches with stems. Let me know if you try! You could also check out this lettuce storage tip from my friend Victoria, it rocks.
Bradleigh Huizinga
Great idea! I feel like this would also give me cooking inspiration when I open my fridge to beautiful herb bouquets. (: Definitely will have to share this. I’m a real food and natural living blogger over at widemeadow and I love natural, non-wasteful solutions. (:
Bren
Thank you for stopping by to comment! I love non-wasteful solutions too!
okieqt
Thank you for this tip! I just found it on Pinterest. I put my cilantro in water, but it only extends it for about a week. I can’t wait to try it in the fridge! Throwing away slimy cilantro after a few days is awful.
Bren
I agree, slimy herbs are gross! And I hate wasting my money! Make sure to trim the ends every few days so the stalks can still get water.